Silicon-carbon batteries are gaining important momentum, with all Chinese language manufacturers using the tech of their 2025 flagships. It is easy to see why producers are dashing to make the most of these batteries of their telephones; switching to silicon gives higher vitality density — permitting manufacturers to squeeze larger batteries — alongside elevated sturdiness, and it holds up significantly better in chilly climate.
Hardwired
In Hardwired, AC Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda delves into all issues {hardware}, together with telephones, audio merchandise, storage servers, and networking gear.
That is why the likes of the Xiaomi 15 Extremely, Discover X8 Extremely, Vivo X200 Professional, and Honor Magic 7 Professional have significantly larger batteries than their predecessors with out including an excessive amount of bulk or weight. These batteries nonetheless use a lithium cathode, however the anode sees a mix of silicon-carbon alongside the standard graphite, and this ends in higher density.
Group14 is on the entrance traces of this push, with the model’s SCC55 silicon-carbon composite used broadly within the business — Honor’s Magic 7 Professional makes use of the customized materials in its battery. Group14 is now partnering with German industrial large BASF to ship a “drop-in-ready answer” that predominantly makes use of silicon-dominant anodes.
Group14 says this transfer has the potential to unlock a complete host of latest use circumstances, and I talked to the model’s VP of International Market Technique, Grant Ray, to get a greater understanding of the tech.
As a high-level overview, Group14 is utilizing its SCC55 materials with BASF’s Licity 2698 X F binder, a customized polymer made from styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) with excessive stress-strain and elasticity that is designed for silicon-rich anodes. With out getting within the weeds an excessive amount of, this collaboration makes it simpler for cellphone manufacturers to make the swap to silicon-rich batteries with out overhauling their present manufacturing traces.
That is essential, as a result of the present era of silicon carbon batteries utilized in telephones have simply 10% silicon of their anode. Whereas silicon has higher vitality density of 4200mAh/g — graphite has 372mAh/g — it expands significantly throughout charging and discharging. Mixing silicon with carbon — as Group14 is doing with SCC55 — will increase the fabric’s mechanical integrity (thereby lowering swelling) whereas offering higher conductivity.
ay mentioned the subsequent iteration of batteries will see a higher combination of silicon-carbon within the anode, with work underway on “full displacement” — fully switching to a silicon-carbon anode. Whereas full displacement continues to be a while away, the advances in mixing increased ratios of silicon-carbon anode ought to ship batteries with considerably higher density and sooner charging.
It isn’t unfathomable to think about next-gen telephones delivering 10,000mAh batteries in roughly the identical dimension as at the moment’s units, and Ray mentioned that cellphone producers aren’t as risk-averse to attempting out growing silicon mixtures. Whereas this tech is being pioneered by Chinese language manufacturers, Ray says we might even see larger manufacturers like Samsung swap to silicon-carbon batteries within the close to future; the Galaxy S26 is touted to function the battery subsequent yr.
A limitation on this space is availability; Ray says that the demand for the SCC55 materials is considerably increased than provide, and the producer is aiming to get its U.S. plant on-line in 2026 to cater to world demand. The present state of affairs with tariffs is a brand new hurdle that is resulting in loads of uncertainty, however Ray notes that Group14 is pushing forward with its plans.
Utilizing flagships this yr made me understand the potential of silicon-carbon batteries, and I am excited to see how this tech evolves in 2026 and past. Most telephones as of late final not less than a day and a half between fees, and I can not wait till the time comes after I’ll solely have to cost my telephones twice or thrice per week.
